Machine for making sheet-metal chains



(No Model.) 5 Sheets--Sheet 1.

H. J. AUSTIN & R. T. LEWIS, Jr. MACHINE FOR MAKING SHEET METAL CHAINS.

No. 481,776. Patented Aug. 30, 1892.

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H. J. AUSTIN & R. T. LEWIS, Jr. MAGHINE PPR MAKING SHEET-METAL CHAINS.

No. 481,776. Patented Aug. 30, 1892.

(No Model.)

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III 1 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4,

H. J. AUSTIN & R. T. LEWIS, Jr. MACHINE FOR MAKING SHEET METAL CHAINS.

Patented Aug 30, 1892.

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W ITNESSES (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

H. J. AUSTIN & R. T. LEWIS, Jr. MAGHINE FOR MAKING SHEET METAL CHAINS.

No. 481,776. Patented. Aug. 30, 1892.

W/TNESSES:- NVENTOR .du tab, )72. W BY I I may.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. AUSTIN AND ROBERT LEWIS, JR, OF XVATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHEET-METAL CHAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 481,776, dated August30, 1892. Application filed March 2, 1892. Serial No. 423,486. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY J. AUSTIN and ROBERT T. LEWIS, J r., citizensof the United States, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Havenand State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Making Sheet-Metal Chains; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvementsinmachines for making sheet-metal chain, and has for its objects, first,to provide a machine of this character which shall produce the ordinarybent sheet-metal chain automatically; second, to providea machine inwhich the links are first bent to an approximately U shape and then fedforward for purposes of assembling, whereby, as will presently be shown,certain delicate feeding mechanism is done away with; third, to providefor the perfect and compact closing of each link after it has beenassembled, and, fourth and generally, to provide a machine which shallbe simple in construction and rapid in operation; and with these ends inview our invention consists and resides in the construction andcombination of elements hereinafter fully explained, and then recited inthe claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which our invention appertainsmay fully understand its construction and method of operation, we willdescribe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure lis a plan view with the shaft and press-gate removed. Fig. 2 is asection on the line c o of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrow. Fig. 3 is a section on the line to w of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a side elevation from the left of Fig.1 with a part of the frame broken away. Fig. 5 is a section at the linea: w of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6, a similarview at the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 7is a view similar to Fig. 3,butshow ing the parts in another position.

Fig. Sis

a detail plan view showing the feed-block and the bending-slides. v Fig.9 is a detail plan view of the bending-slides and closing-dies prior tothe feeding movement of the bent link. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig.9, showing the same parts after the link has been fed. Fig. 11 is a planview of one of the closing-slides. Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of thebending-slides. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the pin-carrying slide. Fig.14 is a plan view of the pin-operating lever. Fig. 15 is a sideelevation of the cam whereby the lever shown at Fig. 14 is operated;Fig. 16, a view showing the successive shapes of the blank at differentstages of its manufacture, each being in edge elevation.

The same numerals and letters denote the same parts in each of thefigures.

The several small arrows placed upon the parts show the direction of theoperative movement.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 4, 1 denotes the bedof the machine, which may be supported upon legs or otherwise. Upon thisbed is mounted a pair of standards 2, and in the upper parts of thesestandards is journaled the main shaft 3. This shaft at one end carries aheavy pulley 4, adapted to be driven by a belt, and this is preferablymade heavy enough to operate as a fly-wheel. The main shaft 3 is crankedat its center between the standards, as seen at 5, and by this crank isdriven through a pit man 6 a cross-head 7, mounted in ways in thestandard. This cross-head carries a pair of punches 8 and 9such as arecommon in machines of this class-one punch forming the eyes of thelinkby cutting two openings near the opposite edges of the blank, asseen at Fig. 1, and the other punch at the next stroke cutting theoutline of the blank around the eyes. The die with which these punchescooperate is atfixed firmly t0 the bed beneath the press-gate. Its planview is exactly the same as thatof the stripper-10, which appears inFig. 1. The metal passes between the upper face of the die and the lowerface of the stripper, as clearly appears at Fig. 1. Just behind the dieis mounted a pairof feed-rolls ICO 11, the upper of which carriesaratchet-wheel 12, actuated by a pawl-carrying lever 13,

(shown at Fig. 2,) and this lever obtains its stroke from the main shaftthrough a pitman 1;. (Shown at Fig. 2.) The connection between the parts13 and 14 is preferably adjustable, so that the feed may be variedaccording to the size of the chain to be produced. In bearings 15,secured to the bed, are journaled four shafts 16, 17, 1S, and 19, andthese shafts serve to operate the various devices whereby the link istreated after it has been blanked from the sheet or strip of metal A bythe punches. This system of shafts we preferably connect by means ofbevel-gears 20, and their movement is derived from the main shaftthrough a connecting-shaft 21, whose upper end is geared to said mainshaft by gears 22 and whose lower end carries a bevel-' gear meshingwith and adapted to drive a gear 23, fast on the shaft 16.

The operation of thepunch 9, which, as has been heretofore explained,severs the flat link from the strip, carries said link downward throughthe die, which is shown in end elevation at 2e, Fig. 5, and which restsupon the feed-block 25, which appears in Fig. 5 and in plan view at Fig.8. The recess in this slide and in which the punch deposits the link isof their regular shape, which may be gathered from a comparison of Figs.5 and 8. When the link is thus deposited, it lies in the position shownin plan view in dotted lines, Fig. 8, and in end elevation in dottedlines at Fig. 5. As soon as it has been deposited and the punch hasreceded, a feeding-slide 26, operated by a cam 27 on shaft 17 andretracted by a spring 28, moves forward and pushes the link along in thedirection indicated by the arrow on Fig. 8. As soon as the link is started forward it falls in to the recess in the block, so as to lie thereinedgewise, and the further movement of the slide 26 pushes it outward tothe position shown in dotted lines at the right hand of Fig. 8, and alsoin Fig. 7. iVhen in this position, it lies against the face of a slide29, which in its turn is superposed upon a slide 30, and these twoslides are operated by cams 31 and 32 on the shaft 18 in such mannerthat after the link has arrived at the 'position at which it is shownthe slide 29 moves forward relative to the slide 30, and then the twoslides continue their movement together, as will be presently explained.The slide 29 has a curved bending-die 33 formed in its outer end, andthrough the slide 30 projects upward apin 34 immediately in front of thedie. The first forward movement of the slide 29 carries the linkflatwise up against the pin and bends it in the U form shown at Fig. 9.During the balance of its forward movement the slide 30 moves with theslide 29, and the result of this movement is to carry one branch of theU-shaped link through the eyesof the link previously formed, as appearsat Fig. 7. The pin 31- is seated through the slide 30 and is borne uponand moved by a lever 35, fulcrumed to the bottom of the slide 20 andhaving its rear end operated by a cam on the shaft 18 in such manner asto withdraw the pin 34 downward out of the bent link, as will bepresently explained. As soon as the forward feeding movement is competedand the U -shaped link fed through the eyes of the previously-bent link,it is closed by means of a pair of slides 46, which are operated bymeans of earns 47 upon the shafts 17 and 19, respectively. Afteroperating upon the link these slides are retracted by means of springs.The position of the parts at the time of this closing movement is shownatFig. 10. By closing the link while its bent end is still around thepin an eye or loop of uniform size is obtained in all the links. hen thelink has thus been threaded and closed, the feeding movement of thechain takes place, and we will now describe the m eanswhereby this isaccomplished. In a bearing 36, secured upon the bed, are journaled apair of feeding-rolls 37, each having in its periphery a number-say, forin stance, three-of longitudinal grooves 38, and these grooves are sospaced as to engage the loops of the links, as will be readilyunderstood from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 7. The rolls 37 are gearedtogether by means of gears 39, Figs. 1 and 2, and upon the shaft of oneroll is mounted a ratchet-wheel 40, which is actuated by means of a cam41 on the shaft 16 through a slide-bar 42, having a pawl 43, whichengages the periphery of the ratchetwheel. The throw of the slide-barand the spacing of the ratchet-teeth are so arranged as to impart theproper movement to the feeding-rolls at each stroke of the press, andthis, as is shown in the drawings, will be one-third of a turn. Thefeeding movement of the rolls draws the link upward one step to theposition in which the lowermost link is shown at Fig. 3, and this bringssaid link between the faces of a pair of combined grasping-jaws andclosing-slides 44, which serve a double purpose. When closed in, theynot only assist in the formation of the eye, in this way supplementingthe slides 46, but they remain together long enough to hold the linkfirmly while the next U-shaped link is threaded through it and closed.As soon as this has taken place, the slides recede and the pin iswithdrawn downward out of the finished link, which latter, being thusleft entirely unsupported, drops downward into line with the length ofchain above. The several steps are then repeated in the formation ofeach link in turn.

we provide a take-up for the finished chain, which preferably consistsof a roller 4.8,hung on a bracket 49 on one of the standards, and afterpassing over this roller the chain is wound upon reel, which mayproperly be driven by a light slip belt or cord. This is a common devicefor this purpose, and we have not thought it necessary to show it in thedrawings.

\Vhile the operation of the invention has been explained in connectionwith the descrip- IIO tion on the several parts, a short recapitulationmay be profitable in connection with Fig. 16, which is designed to showdiagrammaticallythe shape of the link at its various stages and itsseveral positions, the mechanism being omitted. The blanking is firstcompleted, leaving the link in the shape of the fiat sheet-metal piecewith the contracted center and enlarged open ends. This piece. is thenfed in the direction of its length and is caused by gravity to turnone-quarter of a turn in relation to its original position. Then it isbent into the U shape illustrated at Fig. 9. Then it is fed forward, sothat one of its branches passes through the eyes of the last formed andcompleted link. Then it is closed and then released and by gravity fallsa quarter-turn from the horizontal to the vertical position, and at thesame time it turns a quarter-turn upon its axis, which latter movementis due to the engagement of its eye with the rounded end of the loop ofthe preceding link.

When in this position it is fed upward, fin ished by the slides 44, andfinally passes between the feeding-rolls.

In this our invention we do not wish to be confined to the precisedetails of construction nor to the exact instrumentalities which we haveshown in the drawings for the purpose of carrying out ourinvention,since these may be altered and varied and still the same steps in themethod of operation be produced.

It will be observed, among other things, that for the turning of thelink before bending from its fiat to its edgewise position the gravityof the link itself is employed, and this enables us to dispense with anygrippingfingers or other mechanisms for this purpose. As the link isbent to its U form before it is threaded, the curve of each link whichsubsequently forms the eye or loop, will be precisely the same as thatof each other link, regardless of the consistency or texture of themetal, and in this way a uniformity of the finished product is securedwhich is not obtainable where the flat link is threaded through thepreceding link and then bent upon itself without any support, such as isafforded by the pin 34 in our invention. These features are of thehighest practical importancefor the reasons above stated.

Again, after the U-shaped link has been fed forward and threaded througha preceding link and then closed and released it assumes its properposition by gravity, and we are thus enabled to dispense with any meansfor turning it. It is intended that the action of the closing-dies shallcomplete the formation of the eye or loop and at the same time firmlycompress the branches of the link together; but by the use of the slides44 and the feeding-rollers of the shape shown each link receives as itpasses through a supplemental pressure, and the greater part of its flatportion is subjected to a rolling action, which corrects any possibledefect in the flattening .Which may have been left by the closing-dies.These features also have an important bearin g upon the excellence anduniformity of the finished product. I

W'e have shown in the organized machine the means for blanking the linksfrom the intermittently-fed strip of sheet metal; but this is notnecessary, since it is entirely within the scope of our invention toblank the links in one press and bend and assemble them in a machinesimilar to that hereinbefore described.

We claim 1. In achain-machine, the combination, with suitable blankingmechanism for forming the links, of means, as described, for feeding theblanked link in the direction of its length and for turning the same, ananvil and bendingslide adapted to receive said fed link and to bend thesame into U form, means, as described, for projecting said slide andanvil forward to thread the link, a pair of closingdies for shaping thelink, and a feed for the complete chain, substantially as set forth.

2. In a chain-machine, the combination, with suitable means for formingthe blank, of means for feeding said blank in the direction of itslength and turning the same, a pair of bending-slides having independentand conjoint movement, whereby the link is bent to U form and fedforward and threaded, a pin or anvil for the support of the link duringthe bending process, and closing devices operated simultaneously on bothsides of the link, and means for feeding the same.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with meansfor forming the link, of the feed-block in which the link is depositedand which is inclined at one end for the turning of the link, afeed-slide operating through the feed-block to project the link in thedirection of its length, a pair of bending-slides, whereby the link isfirst bent and then fed, and closing mechanism, sub stantially asdescribed, for the subsequent treatment of the link.

4. In a chain-machine, the combination, with suitable blankingmechanism, of a feed-block inclined at one end, as shown, a feed-slideworking through said block and adapted to project the link in thedirection of its length, a pair of bending-slides, one provided with abending-die and the other with a pin or anvil, and means for firstmoving the die forward to effect the bending and both dies forward forthe purpose of feeding the link, and a pair of closingdies and suitablefeeding mechanism.

In testimony whereof we affix oursignatures in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY J. AUSTIN. ROBERT T. LEWIS, JR. Witnesses:

S. H. HUBBARD, M. O. HINCHOLIFFE.

